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diff --git a/12048-0.txt b/12048-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db32036 --- /dev/null +++ b/12048-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1678 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12048 *** + +Our Little Korean Cousin + +By + +H. Lee M. Pike + +_Illustrated by_ + +L.J. Bridgman + + + + +Preface + + +Until very recently little has been known of the strange land in which +the subject of this tale lives. Recent events have done much to +introduce Korea and its people to the world at large. For this reason +the story of Yung Pak's youthful days may be the more interesting to his +Western cousins. + +These are stirring times in Korea, and it may safely be prophesied that +the little Koreans of the present day will occupy a larger place in the +world's history than have their fathers and grandfathers. Their bright +eyes are now turned toward the light, and, under the uplifting +influences of education and civilization, the old superstitions and +antique customs are bound to give way. + +Some famous Americans and Englishmen have had no small part in letting +in the light upon this dark nation, and in years to come, when Korea +shall have attained to the full stature of national strength, the names +of Rodgers, Blake, Kimberly, and many others will be held in high esteem +by the people of that country. + +This little volume gives just a glimpse into the mode of life, the +habits and customs, the traditions and superstitions, of the Koreans. If +it awakens an interest in the minds of its young readers, and inspires +them with a desire for further knowledge of their cousins in this far +Eastern land, its purpose will be well served. + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER + +I. SOME QUEER THINGS +II. YUNG PAK'S HOME +III. A GLIMPSE OF THE KING +IV. YUNG PAK AT SCHOOL +V. A LESSON IN HISTORY +VI. THE MONK'S STORY +VII. A JOURNEY +VIII. THE MONASTERY AT CHANG-AN-SA +IX. A FULL-FLEDGED TOP-KNOT + + + + +List of Illustrations + +YUNG PAK A STREET IN SEOUL +"ALL THE BOYS SIT UPON THE FLOOR" +"HE MUST DROP TO HIS KNEES AND MAKE A PROFOUND SALUTE" +"ON THE UPPER PART OF EACH OF THESE POSTS WAS A RUDE CARVING" +"THE DAY WAS PASSED IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS THE PRECEDING ONE" + + + + +OUR LITTLE KOREAN COUSIN + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +SOME QUEER THINGS + +Yung Pak was the very queer name of a queer little boy who lived in a +queer house in a queer city. This boy was peculiar in his looks, his +talk was in a strange tongue, his clothes were odd in colour and fit, +his shoes were unlike ours, and everything about him would seem to you +very unusual in appearance. But the most wonderful thing of all was that +he did not think he was a bit queer, and if he should see one of you in +your home, or at school, or at play, he would open wide his slant eyes +with wonder at your peculiar ways and dress. The name of the country in +which this little boy lived is Korea. + +One thing about Yung Pak, though, was just like little boys everywhere. +When he first came to his home in the Korean city, a little bit of a +baby, his father and mother were very, very glad to see him. Your father +and mother gave you no warmer welcome than the parents of this little +Korean baby gave to him. + +Perhaps Yung Pak's father did not say much, but any one could have seen +by his face that he was tremendously pleased. He was a very dignified +man, and his manner was nearly always calm, no matter how stirred up he +might have felt in his mind. This was one of the rare occasions when his +face expanded into a smile, and he immediately made a generous offering +of rice to the household tablets. + +All Koreans pay great honour to their dead parents, and tablets to +their memory are placed in some room set apart for the purpose. Before +these tablets sacrifices are offered. Yung Pak's father would have been +almost overwhelmed with terror at thought of having no one to worship +his memory and present offerings before his tablet. + +It is to be feared that if, instead of Yung Pak, a little daughter had +come to this Korean house, the father and the mother would not have been +so pleased. For, strange as it may seem to you who live in homes where +little daughters and little sisters are petted and loved above all the +rest of the family, in Korea little girls do not receive a warm welcome, +though the mothers will cherish and fondle them--as much from pity as +from love. The mothers know better than any one else how hard a way the +little girl will have to travel through life. + +But it is Yung Pak we want to tell you about. + +As his father was a wealthy man, all the comforts and luxuries which +could be given to a Korean baby were showered on this tiny boy. + +One of the queer things, though, was that he had no little cradle in +which he might be rocked to sleep. And you know that all babies, +especially little babies, sleep a great deal. So how do you suppose Yung +Pak's mother used to put him to sleep in this land where cradles were +unknown? She put him on the bed and patted him lightly on the stomach. +This she called _to-tak, to-tak_. + +As Yung Pak grew older he was given many toys, among them rattles, +drums, flags, and dolls, just as you had them. Some of the toys, though, +were very peculiar ones--different from anything you ever saw. He had +little tasselled umbrellas, just like the big one his father used when +he walked out in the sun. He also had little fringed hats and toy +chariots with fancy wheels. One of Yung Pak's favourite toys was a +wooden jumping-jack with a pasteboard tongue. By pulling a string the +tongue was drawn in and a trumpet carried up to the mouth. + +Another favourite toy was a tiger on wheels. Tiger-hunting, by the way, +was considered great sport by Yung Pak's father. It was a very dangerous +one, too, and sometimes lives were sacrificed in his efforts to capture +or to kill this fierce wild beast. Sometimes the animal was caught in a +trap which was nothing less than a hut of logs with a single entrance. +In the roof of the hut heavy beams would be placed on a forked stick. +The bait--a young lamb or kid--would be tied beneath the beams. The +moment the bait was touched, down would come the heavy timber--smash--on +the tiger's head. + +But Yung Pak's tiger was ferocious only in looks. It was made of paper +pulp and painted with bright stripes. This harmless image of a fierce +beast Yung Pak would pull about the floor with a string by the hour. + +All his pets were not of wood and paper. Real live animals he had. +Puppies and kittens, of course. His greatest pet, though, was a monkey. +What little boy ever saw a monkey that he didn't want for his own? So +when Yung Pak's father made him a present of a monkey--a real +monkey--alive--he just danced with glee. + +This monkey was not a very large one,--not over a foot high,--but he +could cut capers and play tricks equal to any monkey you ever saw +travelling with an organ-grinder. He was dressed in a scarlet jacket, +and he was always with Yung Pak, except sometimes when he would try to +plague him by breaking away and running--perhaps to the house-top or to +the neighbour's garden. + +After a little while Yung Pak got used to these "monkey shines," and he +knew that his pet would not stay away long after mealtime. + +As Yung Pak grew older he was allowed to play with other boys of his own +age. A favourite sport was Hunting the Ring. In this game the boys would +get together quite a large heap of sand. In this sand one of them would +hide a ring, and then the urchins would all get slender sticks and poke +around in the pile trying to find the ring. Whoever succeeded in getting +the ring on his stick won the game, and carried the prize home as a sign +of victory. + +Sometimes Yung Pak would be the winner, and then he would march home +with great glee and show the trophy to his father. + +One of the first things Yung Pak was taught was to be respectful to his +father. Never was he allowed to fail in this duty in the least. This +does not seem strange when we know what a sober, serious, dignified man +Yung Pak's father was. It would not do to allow his son to do anything +that would upset his dignity, though he loved him very much indeed. + +It was far different with the boy's mother. Her little boy soon learned +that her wishes counted for very little in the family, and she never +ventured to rebuke him, no matter how seriously he might offend her or +what naughty thing he might do. + +One queer thing about Yung Pak was the way he used to wear his hair. +While still very young his head was shaved, except a little round spot +on the very crown. Here it was allowed to grow, and as years went by it +grew quite long, and was braided in two plaits down his back. + +When Yung Pak grew to be a man the long hair was knotted up on top of +his head, and for this reason many people call Koreans "Top-knots." But +of this arrangement of the hair we shall tell more farther on. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +YUNG PAK'S HOME + +Ki Pak, Yung Pak's father, was one of the king's officials. On this +account his home was near the great palace of the king, in the city of +Seoul, the capital of the country. + +This city did not look much like the ones in which you live. There were +no wide streets, no high buildings, no street-cars. Instead, there were +narrow, dirty lanes and open gutters. Shopkeepers not only occupied both +sides of the crowded streets, but half their wares were exposed in and +over the dirty gutters. Grain merchants and vegetable dealers jostled +each other in the streets themselves. In and about among them played the +boys of the city, not even half-clothed in most cases. There were no +parks and playgrounds for them such as you have. Often, too, boys would +be seen cantering through the streets, seated sidewise on the bare backs +of ponies, caring nothing for passers-by, ponies, or each +other--laughing, chatting, eating chestnuts. Other boys would be +carrying on their heads small round tables covered with dishes of rice, +pork, cabbage, wine, and other things. + +[Illustration: A STREET IN SEOUL] + +Around the city was a great wall of stone fourteen miles in length. In +some places it clung to the edges of the mountains, and then dropped +into a deep ravine, again to climb a still higher mountain, perhaps. In +one direction it enclosed a forest, in another a barren plain. Great +blocks were the stones, that had been in place many, many years. It must +have taken hundreds and thousands of men to put them in position, and, +though the wall was hundreds of years old, it was still well preserved. +It was from twenty-five to forty feet high. The wall was hung from one +end of the city to the other with ivy, which looked as if it had been +growing in its place centuries before Yung Pak was born. + +In the wall were eight gates, and at each one a keeper was stationed at +all hours of the day and night. No persons could come in or go out +unless their business was known to those who had charge of the passage. + +Every evening, at sunset, the gates were closed, and during the night no +one was allowed to pass through in either direction. + +A curious ceremony attended the closing of these gates. They were never +shut till the king had been notified that all was well on the north, on +the south, on the east, and on the west. As there were no telegraph +lines, another way had to be provided by which messages might be quickly +sent. Bonfires upon the surrounding hills were used as signals. By +these fires the king was told if all were well in his kingdom, and every +evening, as soon as the sun was set, four beacon-fires on a hill within +the walls told the news as it was flashed to them from the mountains +outside. Then four officers, whose business it was to report to the king +the message of the fires, hastened to him, and with great ceremony and +much humility announced that all was well. On this the royal band of +music would strike up its liveliest airs, and a great bell would toll +its evening warning. This bell was the third largest in the world, and +for five centuries it had given the signal for opening and closing the +gates of Seoul, the chief city of the "Land of the Morning Radiance." + +At the stroke of the bell, with a great clang the gates were shut, and +strong bars were placed across the inner sides, not to be removed until +at early dawn the bell again gave its signal to the keepers. + +To little Yung Pak, the loud tones of the bell meant more even than to +the sentinels at the gates. He knew that not only was it a signal for +the closing of the city gates, but it was also a warning that bedtime +was at hand. + +The house in which Yung Pak lived was a very fine one, although the +grounds were not as spacious as those of many houses in the outskirts of +the city. But its walls were of stone, whereas many of the houses of +Seoul had walls of paper. + +Yes, actually walls of paper! + +But this paper was a very tough, fibrous substance, and would resist +quite a heavy blow as well as keep out the cold. Its slight cost brought +it within the means of the poorer people. + +In some parts of Korea the houses were built of stout timbers, the +chinks covered with woven cane and plastered with mud. Neat hedges of +interlaced boughs surrounded them. The chimney was often simply a +hollow tree, not attached to the house. + +Ki Pak's house was not only built of stone, but about it were four walls +of stone, about five feet high, to help keep out intruders. The wall was +surmounted by a rampart of plaited bamboo. In this wall were three +gates, corresponding to entrances into the house itself. One gate, the +largest, on the north side, was used only by Ki Pak himself, though +after he grew older Yung Pak could enter this gate with his father. The +second gate, on the east, was used by the family and friends of Ki Pak. +The third and smallest gate was reserved for the use of the servants. + +The roof of this house was not covered with shingles, but with clay +tiles, coloured red. Many houses in the city had simply a roof-covering +of thatched straw. + +The house was but a single story high, but in this respect the king's +palace itself was no better. There were three divisions to the house. +One was for the use of the men, a second for the women of the family, +and a third for the servants. Each division had a suitable number of +rooms for its occupants. + +Yung Pak's own sleeping-room was a dainty affair, with its paper walls, +tiger-skin rugs upon the stone floor, and the softest of mats and silk +and wadded cotton coverings for his couch. + +This couch, by the way, was another queer affair. It was built of brick! +Beneath it were pipes or flues connected with other pipes which ran +beneath the whole house. Through these flues were forced currents of hot +air from a blaze in a large fireplace at one end of the house. The +chimney was at the other end, and thus a draught of hot air constantly +passed beneath the floors in cold weather. On warm nights Yung Pak would +pile his mats upon the floor and sleep as comfortably as ever you did +on the softest feather bed your grandmother could make. + +The windows of Ki Pak's house were not made of glass, but were small +square frames covered with oiled paper. These frames fitted into grooves +so that they could be slid back and forth, and in warm weather the +windows were always left open. The doors were made of wood, though in +many houses paper or plaited bamboo was used. + +When Yung Pak ate his meals, he sat upon a rug on the floor with his +father and such male guests as might be in the house. The women never +ate with them. Their meals were served in their own rooms. + +A servant would bring to each person a _sang_, or small low table. +Instead of a cloth, on each table was a sheet of fine glazed paper which +had the appearance of oiled silk. This paper was made from the bark of +the mulberry-tree. It was soft and pliable, and of such a texture that +it could be washed easier than anything else, either paper or cloth. On +this were placed dishes of porcelain and earthen ware. There were no +knives or forks, but in their place were chop-sticks such as the Chinese +used. Spoons also were on the table. A tall and long-spouted teapot was +always the finest piece of ware. + +On the dining-tables of the poorer people of Korea the teapot was never +seen, for, strange as it may seem, in this land situated between the two +greatest tea-producing countries of the world, tea is not in common use. + +All Koreans have splendid appetites, and probably if you should see Yung +Pak eating his dinner you would criticize his table manners. He not only +ate a large amount of food, but ate it very rapidly--almost as if he +feared that some one might steal his dinner before he could dispose of +it. And you would think that he never expected to get another square +meal! + +But it was not Yung Pak's fault that he was such a little glutton. In +his youngest days, when his mother used to regulate his food, she would +stuff him full of rice. Then she would turn him over on his back and +paddle his stomach with a ladle to make sure that he was well filled! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +A GLIMPSE OF THE KING + +Yung Pak's earliest days were spent very much as are those of most +babies, whether they live in Korea or America. Eating and sleeping were +his chief occupations. + +When he grew old enough to run about, his father employed for him a +servant, Kim Yong, whose business it was to see that no harm came to the +child. For several years the two were constantly together, even sleeping +in the same room at night. + +Once when Yung Pak and his attendant were out for their daily walk their +attention was attracted by the sound of music in the distance. + +"What is that music?" asked Yung Pak. + +"That is the king's band. It must be that there is going to be a +procession," was Kim Yong's reply. + +"Oh, I know what it is," said Yung Pak. "The king is going to the new +Temple of Ancestors. My father said the tablets on which the king's +forefathers' names are engraved are to be put in place to-day." + +"Let us hurry so as to get into a place where we can have a good view of +the procession." + +"Yes, we will; for father told me that this is to be an extra fine one, +and he is to be in it himself. I want to see him when he goes by." + +By this time Yung Pak and Kim Yong were running as fast as their flowing +garments and their dignity would allow them. And everybody else, from +the dirtiest street boy to the gravest old man, was hurrying toward the +palace gate through which the procession was to come. Yung Pak and Kim +Yong were fortunate enough to get a position where they could see the +palace gate, and the procession would have to pass by them on its way to +the temple. + +Meanwhile the band inside the palace walls kept up its music, and the +people outside could also hear the shouts of officers giving their +orders to guards and soldiers. + +Soon there was an extra flourish of the music, and the gate, toward +which all eyes had been strained, was suddenly flung wide open with a +great clang. + +Hundreds of soldiers already lined the streets to keep the crowd back +out of the way of the procession. + +First through the gate came a company of Korean foot-soldiers, in blue +uniforms. Directly after them came a lot of palace attendants in curious +hats and long robes of all colours of the rainbow. Some were dressed in +blue, some in red, some in orange, some in yellow, some in a mixture of +colours. All carried staves bound with streamers of ribbons. + +Following the attendants came a line of bannermen, with red flags, on +which were various inscriptions in blue; then came drummers and +pipe-players dressed in yellow costumes, their instruments decked with +ribbons. + +Yung Pak next saw more soldiers, dressed in the queerest of ancient +costumes; afterward came men with cymbals and bells, cavalrymen on foot, +and more palace attendants. Through the whole line were seen many +officials, gaudily adorned with plumes, gold lace, gilt fringe, swords, +and coloured decorations of all sorts. Many of the officials had on +high-crowned hats decorated with bunches of feathers and crimson +tassels. These were fastened by a string of amber beads around the +throat. Blue and orange and red were the colours of their robes. Then +followed more bannermen, drummers, and servants carrying food, fire, and +pipes. + +All the time there was a tremendous beating of drums and blowing of +horns and ringing of bells. The noise was so great that Kim Yong hardly +heard Yung Pak when he shouted: + +"Oh, I see papa!" + +"Where is he?" + +"Don't you see him right behind that little man in yellow who is +carrying a big blue flag?" + +"Oh, yes," said Kim Yong. "He has on a long green robe, and on his +turban are long orange plumes." + +"Yes; and on both sides of him, in green gauze coats, are his servants. +I wonder if he will notice us as he goes by." + +"Indeed he will not. At least, if he does see us, he will give no sign, +for this is too solemn and important an occasion for him to relax his +dignity." + +On state occasions Ki Pak could look as sedate and dignified as the most +serious official in all Korea; and that is saying a good deal, for in +no country do the officials appear more solemn than in this "Land of the +Morning Radiance." + +Now along came more soldiers, followed by the great nobles of the +kingdom, and finally, amid a most terrific beating of drums, a fearful +jangling of bells, and a horrid screaming of pipes, the guard of the +king himself appeared. + +Suddenly all was silent. Drum-beating, pipe-blowing, and shouting all +died away. The sound of hurried footsteps alone was heard. All at once +into sight came the imperial chair of state. In this chair was the king, +but not yet could Yung Pak get a glimpse of his royal master. Yellow +silken panels hid him from the view of the curious crowd, and over the +top was a canopy of the same description, ornamented with heavy, rich +tassels. + +This gorgeous chair was much heavier than those used by officials and +ordinary citizens, and it took thirty-two men to carry it quickly and +safely past the throng to the entrance of the temple. Only a few minutes +were necessary for this journey, for the temple was but a short distance +from the palace gate, and both were in plain sight of Yung Pak and Kim +Yong. + +It was only a fleeting glimpse of the king that they got, as he passed +from his chair to the temple gate; but this was enough to repay Yung Pak +for the rushing and the crowding and the waiting that he had been +obliged to endure. Rare indeed were these glimpses of his Majesty, and +they afforded interest and excitement enough to last a long while. + +But the procession was not over yet. A chair covered with red silk, +borne on the shoulders of sixteen chair-men, passed up to the temple. + +"Who is in that chair?" asked Yung Pak of his companion. + +"The crown prince," was Kim Yong's reply. + +"He attends his royal father in all these ceremonies of state." + +Yung Pak drew a long breath, but said nothing. He only thought what a +fine thing it must be to be a king's son, and wear such gorgeous +clothes, and have so many servants at his call. + +And then he had a second thought. He would not want to exchange his +splendid father for all the glory and magnificence of the king's court. + +After the king and the crown prince, with their attendant officials and +servants and priests, had gone into the temple, Yung Pak and Kim Yong +did not stay longer at their post. The order of the procession had +broken, and the king and his immediate retinue would return privately to +the palace after he should pay homage and offer sacrifice to the spirits +of his ancestors. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +YUNG PAK AT SCHOOL + +Little Korean boys have to go to school, just as you do, though they do +not study in just the same way. You would be surprised if you were to +step into a Korean schoolroom. All the boys sit upon the floor with +their legs curled up beneath them. Instead of the quiet, silent +scholars, you would hear a loud and deafening buzz. All the pupils study +out loud. They not only do their studying aloud, but they talk very +loud, as if each one were trying to make more noise than his neighbour. + +The Koreans call this noise _kang-siong_, and it seems almost deafening +to one unused to it. You would think the poor teacher would be driven +crazy, but he seems as calm as a daisy in a June breeze. + +[Illustration: "ALL THE BOYS SIT UPON THE FLOOR"] + +The Korean boys have to have "tests" and examinations just as you do. +When a lad has a good lesson, the teacher makes a big red mark on his +paper, and he carries it home with the greatest pride,--just as you do +when you take home a school paper marked "100." + +But Yung Pak was not allowed to share the pleasures and the trials of +the boys in the public school. + +One day, soon after he was six years old, his father sent for him to +come to his private room,--perhaps you would call it a study or library. +With Yung Pak's father was a strange gentleman, a young man with a +pleasant face and an air of good breeding. + +"This," said Ki Pak to his son as he entered the room, "is Wang Ken. I +have engaged him to be your teacher, or tutor. The time has come for you +to begin to learn to read and to cipher and to study the history and +geography of our country." + +Yung Pak made a very low bow, for all Korean boys are early taught to be +courteous, especially to parents, teachers, and officials. + +In this case he was very glad to show respect to his new tutor, for he +liked his appearance and felt sure that they would get on famously +together. More than that, though he liked to play as well as any boy, he +was not sorry that he was going to begin to learn something. Even at his +age he had ambitions, and expected that sometime he would, like his +father, serve the king in some office. + +Wang Ken was equally well pleased with the looks of the bright boy who +was to be his pupil, and told Yung Pak's father that he believed there +need be no fear but what they would get on well together, and that the +boy would prove a bright scholar. + +To Wang Ken and his pupil were assigned a room near Ki Pak's library, +where Yung Pak would spend several hours each day trying his best to +learn the Korean A B C's. + +The first book he had to study was called "The Thousand Character +Classic." This was the first book that all Korean boys had to study, and +was said to have been written by a very wise man hundreds of years ago. +A strange thing about it was that it was composed during one night, and +so great was the wise man's struggle that his hair and beard turned +white during that night. When Yung Pak was told this fact he was not a +bit surprised. He thought it was hard enough to have to learn what was +in the book, to say nothing of writing it in the beginning. + +At the same time that Yung Pak was learning to read, he was also +learning to write. But you would have been amused if you could have seen +his efforts. The strangest thing about it was that he did not use a pen, +but had a coarse brush on a long handle. Into the ink he would dip this +brush and then make broad marks on sheets of coarse paper. You would not +be able to understand those marks at all. They looked like the daubs of +a sign-painter gone crazy. + +Later on, Yung Pak had to study the history and geography of his +country. Some of the names he had to learn would amuse you very much. +The name of the province of Haan-kiung, for instance, meant Perfect +Mirror, or Complete View Province. Kiung-sang was the Korean name for +Respectful Congratulation Province, and Chung-chong meant Serene Loyalty +Province. One part of Korea, where the inhabitants were always peaceable +and unwarlike, was called Peace and Quiet Province, or, in the Korean +language, Ping-an. + +Under Wang Ken's instruction Yung Pak made rapid progress in his +studies, and when the boy's father questioned him from time to time as +to what he had learned, he was very much pleased, and commended his son +for his close attention to his studies. + +"Sometime," Ki Pak said to the boy, "if you continue to make such good +progress in your studies, you will be able to hold a high position in +the service of the king." + +In explanation of this remark, you should understand that no young man +was able to enter into the government service of Korea until he could +pass a very hard examination in many studies. + +Many things besides book-learning did Wang Ken teach his pupil. In all +the rules of Korean etiquette he was carefully and persistently drilled. + +As you have already been told, Yung Pak had from his earliest days been +taught the deepest reverence and honour for his father. This kind of +instruction was continued from day to day. He was told that a son must +not play in his father's presence, nor assume free or easy posture +before him. He must often wait upon his father at meal-times, and +prepare his bed for him. If the father is old or sickly, the son sleeps +near him by night, and does not leave his presence by day. If for any +reason the father is cast into prison, the son makes his home near by in +order that he may provide such comforts for his unfortunate parent as +the prison officials will allow. + +If, by chance, the father should be banished from the country for his +misdeeds, the son must accompany him at least to the borders of his +native land, and in some instances must go with him into exile. + +When the son meets his father in the street, he must drop to his knees +and make a profound salute, no matter what the state of the roadway. In +all letters which the son writes to his father he uses the most exalted +titles and honourable phrases he can imagine. + +[Illustration: HE MUST DROP TO HIS KNEES AND MAKE A PROFOUND SALUTE] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +A LESSON IN HISTORY + +As you already know, Yung Pak's father intended that his son, when he +grew up, should fill a position in the service of the king. To fit him +for this work, it was important that the boy should learn all that he +could of his country's history. + +On this account Yung Pak's tutor had orders to give to the lad each day, +during the hours devoted to study, some account of events in the rise +and progress of the Korean nation or of its royal families. + +You must know that Korea is a very old country, its history dating back +hundreds of years before America was discovered by Christopher Columbus. + +Now Wang Ken knew that dry history had very few attractions for his +young pupil, or any lively boy for that matter, so as far as possible he +avoided the repetition of dates and uninteresting events, and often gave +to Yung Pak much useful information in story form. + +One day, when the time came for the usual history lesson, Wang Ken said +to Yung Pak: + +"I think that to-day I will tell you the story of King Taijo." + +At this Yung Pak's eyes sparkled, and he was all attention in a moment. +He thought one of Wang Ken's stories was a great deal better than +puzzling over Korean letters or struggling with long strings of figures. +The tutor went on: + +"When Taijo was born, many, many years ago, our country was not called +Korea, but had been given the name of Cho-sen." + +Yung Pak had been told that Cho-sen meant Morning Calm, so he asked Wang +Ken how it came about that such a peaceful name had been given to his +country. + +"Why," said Wang Ken, "the name was given to our land years and years +ago by the leader of some Chinese settlers, whose name was Ki Tsze. In +his native land there had been much violence and war, so with his +friends and followers he moved to the eastward and selected this country +for his home. Here he hoped to be free from the attacks of enemies and +to be able to live a peaceful life. For this reason he chose a name +which well expressed its outward position--toward the rising sun--and +his own inward feelings,--Cho-sen, or Morning Calm. This is still the +official name of our country. + +"But to come back to our story of Taijo. At the time of his birth, the +rulers of the country were very unpopular because of their wickedness +and oppression of the people. There was much suffering on account of the +misrule, and the people longed for a deliverer who should restore +prosperity to Cho-sen. + +"Such a deliverer appeared in the person of Taijo. It is said that even +as a boy he surpassed his fellows in goodness, intelligence, and skill +in all sorts of boyish games." + +Wang Ken improved this opportunity to tell Yung Pak how important it was +that all boys should follow such an example. + +But while Yung Pak listened with apparent patience, he could hardly +conceal his inward desire that the tutor would go on with his story. +Like most boys, of all races, he felt that he could get along without +the moralizing. + +"Hunting with the falcon was one of Taijo's favourite sports. One day, +while in the woods, his bird flew so far ahead that its young master +lost sight of it. Hurrying on to find it, Taijo discovered a hut beside +the path, into which he saw the falcon fly. + +"Entering the hut, the youth found a white-bearded hermit priest, who +lived here alone and unknown to the outside world. For a moment Taijo +was speechless with surprise in the presence of the wise old hermit. + +"Seeing his embarrassment, the old man spoke to him in these words: + +"'What benefit is it for a youth of your abilities to be seeking a stray +falcon? A throne is a richer prize. Betake yourself at once to the +capital.' + +"Now Taijo knew how to take a hint as well as any boy, so he immediately +left the hut of the hermit, forsaking his falcon, and went to Sunto, +then the capital of the kingdom. + +"As I have already told you, Taijo was a wise youth. He did not rush +headlong into the accomplishment of the purpose hinted at by the hermit. +Had he done so, and at that time attempted to dethrone the king, he +would certainly have been overpowered and slain. + +"He took a more deliberate and sensible way. First he enlisted in the +army of the king. As he was a young man of courage and strength, he was +not long in securing advancement. He rapidly rose through the various +grades, until he finally held the chief command of the army as +lieutenant-general. + +"Of course Taijo did not reach this high station in a month, nor in a +year, but many years went by before he attained such an exalted place. +Meanwhile he married and had children. Several of these children were +daughters." + +Wang Ken did not say right here, what he might have said with +truth,--that in Korean families girls are considered of very little +consequence. But in this case Taijo's daughter proved to be of much help +in making her father the king of Cho-sen. + +"One of these daughters was married to the reigning king. Thus Taijo +became father-in-law to his sovereign. You can easily see that in this +relationship he must have had a large influence both over the king and +over the people. + +"Being a brave man and courageous fighter, Taijo was idolized by his +soldiers. He was also very popular with all the people because he was +always strictly honest and just in all his dealings with them. + +"Taijo proved his bravery and his reliance on the soldiers and on the +people by attempting to bring about a change in the conduct of the king, +who abused his power and treated his subjects without mercy. + +"The king, however, refused to listen to the advice of his +father-in-law, and, as a consequence, the hatred of the people for him +grew in volume and force every day. + +"Meanwhile, the king was having other troubles. In former years, Korea +had paid an annual tribute or tax to China, but for some time it had +been held back by this king. Consequently the Chinese (or Ming) emperor +sent a large army to enforce his demand for the amount of money due him. + +"The Korean ruler neglected the matter and finally refused to pay. He +then ordered that more soldiers be added to his army, that the Chinese +forces might be resisted; but with all his efforts the enemy's army was +much the larger. Nevertheless, he ordered Taijo, at the head of his +forces, to attack the Chinese. Upon this, Taijo thus addressed his +soldiers: + +"'Although the order from the king must be obeyed, yet the attack upon +the Ming soldiers, with so small an army as ours, is like casting an egg +against a rock, and no one of us will return alive. I do not tell you +this from any fear of death, but our king is too haughty. He does not +heed our advice. He has ordered out the army suddenly without cause, +paying no attention to the suffering which wives and children of the +soldiers must undergo. This is a thing I cannot bear. Let us go back to +the capital, and the responsibility shall fall on my shoulders alone.' + +"The soldiers were quite willing to take the advice of their courageous +leader, and resolved to obey his orders rather than the king's. They +went to the capital, forcibly removed the king from his throne, and +banished him to the island of Kang-wa. + +"Not yet, however, was Taijo made king. The deposed ruler plotted and +planned all kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored to his old +position of authority. Taijo heard of some of his plots, and finally did +that which would for ever extinguish the authority of the old king or +any of his family. He removed from the temple the tablets on which were +inscribed the names of the king's ancestors. More than this, he ordered +that no more sacrifices be offered to them. + +"The king could have suffered no greater insult than this, for, like +all Koreans, he held as sacred the memory of his ancestors, and even to +speak ill of one of them was an unpardonable crime. But this time he was +powerless to resent the indignity or to punish the offender, and +consequently he lost what little influence he had been able to retain. + +"Taijo was now formally proclaimed king. He was able to make peace with +the Chinese emperor, and under his rule the Koreans enjoyed freedom from +war and oppression. His descendants still sit upon the throne of Korea." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +THE MONK'S STORY + +One evening, after Yung Pak had finished his supper, he sat talking with +his father and Wang Ken. + +The early evening hour was often spent in this way. It was a time of day +when Ki Pak was generally free from any official duty, and he was glad +to devote a little time to his son. He would inquire about the boy's +studies as well as about his sports, and Yung Pak would regale his +father with many an amusing incident or tell him something he had +learned during study hours. Sometimes he would tell of the sights he had +seen on the streets of Seoul, while on other occasions he would give +account of games with his playmates or of his success in shooting with a +bow and arrow. + +This latter sport was very common with the men and boys of Korea. It was +approved by the king for the national defence in time of war, and often +rewards were offered by rich men for winners in contests. Most Korean +gentlemen had private archery grounds and targets in the gardens near +their houses. + +Ki Pak had an arrow-walk and target in his garden, and here it was that +Yung Pak used to practise almost daily. He often, too, invited other +boys to enjoy the sport with him. + +At regular times every year public contests in arrow-shooting were held, +and costly prizes were offered to the winners by the king. The prizes +were highly valued by those who secured them, and Yung Pak looked +forward with eager anticipation to the day when he should be old enough +and skilful enough to take part in these contests. + +While Yung Pak was listening to the conversation between his father and +tutor on this evening, a knock was heard. + +On opening the door there was seen standing at the entrance a man rather +poorly clad in the white garments worn by nearly all the people of +Korea. But upon his head, instead of the ordinary cone-shaped hat worn +by the men of the country, was a very peculiar structure. It was made of +straw and was about four feet in circumference. Its rim nearly concealed +the man's face, which was further hidden by a piece of coarse white +linen cloth stretched upon two sticks and made fast just below the eyes. + +This method of concealing the face, together with the wearing of the +immense hat, was a symbol of mourning. Such a sight was not uncommon in +the streets of Seoul, and Yung Pak knew well its meaning. + +With great courtesy and hospitality Ki Pak invited the stranger within +the house. + +"I thank you for your kindness," said the visitor. "I am a stranger in +your city, a monk from a monastery in Kong-chiu. Your peculiar law not +allowing men upon the street after nightfall compels me to seek +shelter." + +"To that you are entirely welcome, my friend," said Ki Pak, whose +hospitable nature would have granted the monk's request, even if +sympathy for sorrow and reverence for religion had not also been motives +for his action. + +"Let me get the man something to eat," said Yung Pak as the monk seated +himself upon a mat. + +"Certainly, my son; it is always proper to offer food to a guest who +takes refuge under our roof." + +Quickly the boy sought his mother in the women's apartments, and very +soon returned with a steaming bowl of rice, which he placed before the +visitor. + +This gift of rice was especially pleasing to the traveller, as no dish +is held in higher honour in Korea. It is the chief cereal, and the +inhabitants say it originated in Ha-ram, China, nearly five thousand +years ago. Yung Pak called it Syang-nong-si, which means Marvellous +Agriculture. He had learned from Wang Ken that it was first brought to +Korea in 1122 B.C. + +To the monk the warm food was very refreshing, and after he had eaten a +generous amount he entered into conversation with his hosts. + +He told of the monastery where he made his home, and his account of the +various religious ceremonies and their origin was very interesting to +Yung Pak, who found that the visitor not only knew a great deal of the +history of the country, but was also familiar with its fables and +legends. + +Like many who live in retirement and dwell in a world apart from their +fellows, this monk thought the people of former times were superior to +the men of his own day. Especially did he praise the kings of years long +gone by. + +"Do you think," said Yung Pak, "that the old kings were any better than +our own gracious ruler?" + +Yung Pak was very jealous of the honour of his king. + +"Why, yes," replied the monk. "And to prove my statement let me tell you +a story: + +"Many years ago there was in Cho-sen a king named Cheng-chong. He was +celebrated throughout his kingdom for his goodness. It was a habit with +him to disguise himself in ordinary clothing and then to go out and +mingle with the common people. In this way he was often able to +discover opportunities for doing much good to his subjects. + +"One night Cheng-chong disguised himself as a countryman, and, taking a +single friend along, started out to make a tour of inspection among his +people, that he might learn the details of their lives. + +"Coming to a dilapidated-looking house, he suspected that within there +might be miserable people to whom he could render assistance. Desiring +to see the inside of the house, he punched a peep-hole in the paper +door. Looking through this hole, the king perceived an old man weeping, +a man in mourning garb singing, and a nun or widow dancing. + +"Cheng-chong was unable to imagine the cause of these strange +proceedings, so he asked his companion to call the master of the house. + +"In answer to the summons, the man in mourning made his appearance. The +king, with low and respectful salutation, said: + +"'We have never before met.' + +"'True,' was the reply, 'but whence are you? How is it that you should +come to find me at midnight? To what family do you belong?' + +"Cheng-chong answered: 'I am Mr. Ni, living at Tong-ku-an. As I was +passing before your house I was attracted by strange sounds. Then +through a hole in the door I saw an old man crying, a dancing nun, and a +man in mourning singing. Why did the nun dance, the bereaved man sing, +and the old man weep? I have called you out on purpose to learn the +reason of these things.' + +"'For what reason do you pry into other people's business?' was the +question in reply. 'This is little concern to you. It is past midnight +now, and you had better get home as soon as you can.' + +"'No, indeed. I admit that it seems wrong for me to be so curious in +regard to your affairs, but this case is so very extraordinary that I +hope you will not refuse to tell me about it. You may be sure that I +shall not betray your confidence.' + +"'Alas! why such persistence in trying to learn about other people's +business?' + +"'It is very important,' replied the king, 'that I should obtain the +information I have asked of you. Further than that I cannot explain at +present.'" + +Yung Pak wanted to interrupt the storyteller here and say that he did +not blame the man for objecting to telling his private business, but he +had early been taught that it was highly improper for a Korean boy to +break into the conversation of his elders. + +The monk continued: + +"'As you are so urgent in your desire to know the cause of the strange +proceedings you have witnessed, I will try to tell you. Poverty has +always been a burden upon my family. In my house there has never been +sufficient food for a solid meal, and I have not land enough even for an +insect to rest upon. I cannot even provide food for my poor old father. +This is the reason why my wife, from time to time, has cut off a portion +of her hair and sold it for an amount sufficient to buy a bowl of bean +soup, which she has generously given to my father. This evening she cut +off and sold the last tress of her hair, and thus she is now bald as a +nun.'" + +Yung Pak already knew that Korean women who devote their lives to +religious service kept their hair closely clipped, so the monk did not +need to explain his reference to a bald-headed nun. + +"'On this account," said the man to Cheng-chong, 'my father broke out +into mourning in these words: + +"'"Why have I lived to this age? Why did I not die years ago? Why has +this degradation come to my daughter-in-law?" Tears accompanied his +words. My wife and I tried to console him, and, besides urging him not +to weep, she danced for his amusement. I also danced and sang, and thus +we diverted the old man's thoughts and caused him to smile. That is the +true reason of our queer behaviour. I trust you will not think it +strange, and will now go away and leave us to our sorrow.' + +"The king was very much impressed by the man's story, particularly with +the evidence of such great devotion to his father, even in the time of +poverty and misfortune. So he said: 'This is really the most +extraordinary instance of filial love that I ever saw. I think you +should present yourself at the examination to-morrow.' + +"'What examination?' + +"'Why, there is to be an examination before the king of candidates for +official position. You know that all officials have to pass an +examination before they can receive an appointment. Be sure to be +there, and you may be fortunate enough to secure a position which will +remove all fear of poverty from your household.' + +"Having thus spoken, Cheng-chong bade the man good night and went at +once to his palace. + +"Very early in the morning he caused proclamation to be made that an +examination would be held that day, at a certain hour. Notwithstanding +the brief time for preparation, when the hour arrived a large number of +men presented themselves at the king's palace as candidates. + +"In the crowd was the poor man whom the king, in his disguise, had +talked with the night before. Though he understood little of the matter, +he felt that his visitor of the previous night must have known perfectly +about it. + +"When all had assembled, the following was announced as the subject of +the examination: 'The song of a man in mourning, the dance of a nun, the +tears of an old man.' + +"With the exception of the poor man, not a single one of the candidates +was able to make a bit of sense out of the subject. He alone knew it +perfectly well, because of his own personal sad experience. Consequently +he was able to turn in a clear essay upon the subject, which, upon +examination, the king found to be free from error. + +"Cheng-chong then bestowed the degree of doctor upon the man, and +ordered that he be brought into his presence. + +"Upon the man's appearance, the king asked: 'Do you know who I am? It is +I who last night advised you to be present at this examination. Raise +your head and look at me.' + +"With fixed gaze the man looked at the king, and recognized his +benefactor. He at once bowed himself to the ground in gratitude, and in +words of the most humble sort returned his thanks. + +"'Go at once,' said Cheng-chong, 'and return to your wife and old +father. Make them happy with the good news you have for them.' + +"This story of royal generosity has been handed down from generation to +generation, and I give it to you," concluded the monk, "as an example of +the goodness of our ancient kings and the rich inheritance we have from +them. True devotion to parents has never been unrewarded in Korea." + +His story concluded, the monk expressed a desire to retire for the +night. At Ki Pak's command a servant led him to a sleeping-room. Yung +Pak and the other members of the family also retired, and were soon +buried in peaceful slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +A JOURNEY + +It sometimes happened that Ki Pak, in performing his official duties, +was obliged to make long journeys to various parts of Korea. One of Yung +Pak's greatest pleasures was to listen to the stories which his father +used to tell him about these journeys. + +When Ki Pak made one of these trips through the country he could not +ride on the cars as you do, for there were no railways, with puffing +engines and comfortable coaches; neither could he take a carriage drawn +by swift and strong horses, for they too were unknown by the Koreans. +Even if he had possessed horses and carriage, there were few roads over +which they could have been driven. Most of the highways were simply +rough paths, over which men usually travelled on foot or on the backs of +ponies up and down the hills of the country. It was generally necessary +to cross rivers by fording, though, where the water was too deep for +this, rude and clumsy ferry-boats were provided. Occasionally, over a +narrow stream, a frail footbridge would be built. + +You can easily imagine Yung Pak's joy and surprise one day when his +father told him that he proposed to take his little son on his next +journey. + +Ki Pak had been ordered by the king to go to Chang-an-sa, a city among +the Diamond Mountains, near the eastern coast of Korea, and about eighty +miles from Seoul. In this place was a famous monastery, or temple, which +would be an object of much interest and wonder to Yung Pak. + +It was decided, also, that Wang Ken should be one of the party. He +would be able to explain to Yung Pak many things they might see on the +way. + +There was much to do to get ready for the journey. It would take four +days to cover the distance, and, as hotels were unknown along the route, +it was necessary to take along a good supply of provisions, bedding, +cooking utensils, and all sorts of things they might need while absent +from home. + +In addition to getting together all this material, ponies and drivers +had to be engaged. Sometimes, when Ki Pak went on short journeys, he was +carried in a chair by strong men, who by much practice had become able +to endure the fatigue of travel, and of bearing heavy burdens. This +chair was very different from the kind you have in your houses. Even a +comfortable rocker would not be very nice in which to take a long +journey. + +The Korean traveller's chair consists of a boxlike frame, of such +height that one may sit within in Turkish fashion upon the floor. The +roof is of bamboo, covered with painted and oiled paper. The sides also +are covered with oiled paper or muslin. In some cases a small stained +glass window is set in the side or front, but only rich men can afford +this luxury. The curtain in front can be raised or lowered. This serves +the double purpose of shutting out the glances of the curious and +keeping out the cold air. When the owner can afford it, an ample supply +of cushions and shawls makes the clumsy vehicle more comfortable for its +occupant. + +The chair rests upon two long poles, which hang by straps upon the +shoulders of four stout men. Under ordinary circumstances these men can +travel with their burden from twenty to thirty miles a day. + +Sometimes, also, when Yung Pak's father went about the streets of +Seoul, he rode in a chair very similar to the one just described. The +only difference was that it rested on a framework attached to a single +wheel directly underneath. This cross between a wheelbarrow and a +sedan-chair was supported and trundled along the street by four bearers. + +On this journey, however, Yung Pak and his companions were to ride on +ponies. + +The Korean ponies are small, fine-coated animals, little larger than +Shetland ponies. They are very tough and strong, and can endure long +marches with little food. They are sometimes obstinate and are desperate +fighters, squealing and neighing on all occasions. They often attack +other ponies, and never become friendly with each other on a journey. In +their attacks upon one another loads are forgotten and often seriously +damaged. Notwithstanding, they bear with much patience a great deal of +abuse from unkind masters. Because of much beating and overloading, +they are generally a sorry-looking lot of animals. + +Ki Pak had to engage ponies for himself, Yung Pak, and Wang Ken. He was +also obliged to employ a cook for the journey, who had to have a pony to +carry along the kettles and pans and other utensils. It was also +necessary to hire body-servants and several ponies to carry luggage, and +as each pony must have a _mapu_, or groom, it made quite a procession +when the party started out of Seoul on the journey to the northeast. + +It was a fine day when the start was made. It was not early in the +morning, for, if there is anything a Korean hates to do, it is to make +an early start on a journey. If you had been in Yung Pak's place, you +would have gone crazy with impatience. The servants were late in +bringing around the ponies, and the process of loading them was a very +slow one. + +But Yung Pak had long before learned to be patient under such +circumstances. In fact, he seemed to care little whether the start were +made in the morning or at noon. He calmly watched the servants at their +work, and, when at last all was declared ready, he gravely mounted his +pony and fell into the procession behind his father, with Wang Ken +immediately following. + +A most comical sight was the cook, perched on top of his load of pans, +pots, and potatoes. As his pony trotted along with the others, it looked +as if the cook was in constant danger of a fall from his lofty seat, but +he sat as calm and unconcerned as one could imagine. + +You would laugh if you should see the strings of eggs hanging across +this pony's back--yes, eggs. They were packed in bands of wheat straw, +and between each pair of eggs a straw was twisted. Thus a straw rope +enclosing twenty or more eggs, well protected, was made and thrown over +the top of the load. + +Other riders had more comfortable seats, for most of the ponies carried +baggage in two wicker baskets,--one strapped upon each side,--and on top +of these was piled bedding and wadded clothing, which made a soft seat +for the rider. + +The _mapus_ who accompanied the procession were dressed in short cotton +jackets, loose trousers, with sandals and cotton wrappings upon the +feet. They had to step lively to keep up with the ponies. + +All the people in this company carried with them long garments made of +oiled paper. You have already learned that the Korean paper is very +tough, and when soaked with oil it forms a splendid protection against +the rain. Many of these garments had a very peculiar appearance, because +they were made of paper on which had been set copies for schoolboys to +use in learning to write. + +As Yung Pak and his companions passed along the dirty streets of Seoul +toward a gate in the great wall, a curious crowd was attracted by the +unusual sight. This mob of men and boys were good-natured, but very +curious, and it gathered so close as to impede the progress of the +ponies. Moreover, a watchful eye had to be kept on all the luggage, lest +some over-covetous person might steal the provisions and supplies on the +ponies' backs. + +Notwithstanding the slow progress made by Ki Pak's company, it took only +a short time to pass through the narrow streets and out by the great +gate, leaving behind the noisy mob of men and boys who had followed them +to the city's wall. + +Once outside, upon the road which wound around and over the high hills +that surround the city, the pure country air seemed very sweet and +refreshing to Yung Pak, who knew nothing of life outside Seoul. This was +his first journey into the country, and the many strange sights drew +exclamations of surprise and wonder from him. The green waving grass and +swaying foliage of the trees were ever new sources of joy and pleasure, +and the delicate odours which the breezes bore to his sensitive nostrils +were refreshing and life-giving. + +Among the strange sights which attracted Yung Pak's attention, as they +rode along through the country, were some very curious figures erected +by the roadside. These were posts, one side of which was roughly planed. +On the upper part of each of these posts was a rude carving of a hideous +human face with prominent teeth. The cheeks and teeth were slightly +coloured. A most fiendish appearance was presented by these figures, +called by the Koreans _syou-sal-mak-i_, and if looks counted for +anything, they ought well to serve their purpose,--the scaring away of +evil spirits from the village near which the figures always stood. The +mile-posts, or _fjang-seung_, along the way were often similarly +decorated. + +[Illustration: "ON THE UPPER PART OF EACH OF THESE POSTS WAS A RUDE +CARVING"] + +Another curiosity by the wayside which led to wonder on Yung Pak's part +was an old trunk of a tall tree. For about thirty feet from the ground +this was painted in coloured stripes very much like a barber's pole. The +top and branches of the tree had been trimmed off, and the upper end was +rudely carved in a shape representing a dragon with a forked tail. From +the head, which resembled that of an alligator, hung various cords, to +which were attached small brass bells and a wooden fish. Wang Ken told +Yung Pak that this was a monument to some famous Korean "doctor of +literature." + +On the first day's journey toward Chang-an-sa the party made good +progress. The plan was to get to Yong-pyöng, about twenty miles from +Seoul, before nightfall. To you this would seem a short day's journey, +but when it is remembered that many of the servants were on foot, and +that the little ponies were heavily loaded, it does not seem so strange +that more ground could not be covered in one day. In addition, in many +places the roads were poor, though in the valleys there was a smooth +bottom where the sand had washed down from the hills. + +On some of these hillsides little villages were perched. Yung Pak +noticed that on the upper side of each of these hill-towns was a +moon-shaped wall. + +"What is that wall for?" he asked Wang Ken as they passed one. + +"That protects the village in time of rainstorms," replied the tutor. +"The soil here is of such a nature that it easily washes away, and if +the town were unprotected the earth would soon be swept from beneath the +houses. If you will look sharply, you will see outside the wall a deep +trench which carries off the rushing water." + +As they were slowly riding along a road which wound around and over a +high hill Yung Pak still kept his eyes wide open for strange sights. +Suddenly he lifted his arm, and, pointing toward a tree upon a little +hill at one side of the road, he said to Wang Ken: + +"Oh, what a queer-looking tree that is! And are not those strange leaves +on it? What kind of a tree is it, anyway?" + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Wang Ken, "I don't wonder that you call that a +strange-looking tree. Let's take a walk up to it and get a closer view." + +So the ponies were halted, and down sprang Yung Pak and Wang Ken. +Leaving the ponies in charge of the _mapus_, they marched up the hill to +get a nearer sight of the tree. + +"Why," said the boy, as they approached it, "those are not leaves that +we saw from the road, but they are rags and strips of cloth. It looks as +if some one had hung out their clothes to dry and forgotten to take them +in again. What does it all mean?" + +"That tree, my boy," Wang Ken replied, "is called the sacred devil-tree. +That is a queer combination of names, but you know there are a lot of +ignorant people in our country who are very superstitious. They believe +in all sorts of evil and good spirits. They think these spirits watch +every act of their lives. Consequently they do all they can to please +the good spirits and to drive away the evil ones. This tree they believe +has power to keep off the bad spirits, so every man who thinks that a +demon has possession of him tears a piece of cloth from his garment and +carefully ties it to a branch. That is how all these strips you see come +to be hanging above you. Some have hung there so long that the wind and +rain have torn them to rags." + +"Yes, but why is this done?" asked Yung Pak. + +"Because," was the reply, "a man who is possessed by an evil spirit +thinks that by thus tying a part of his clothing to the tree he may +induce the spirit to attach himself to it instead of to his own person." + +Yung Pak's curiosity satisfied, they returned to the road, mounted their +ponies, and quickly caught up with the rest of the party. + +No further incidents of special importance marked this first day's +journey, and shortly before nightfall they arrived at the town of +Yong-pyöng. They found the village inn to be a series of low, small +buildings built on three sides of a courtyard. Into low sheds in this +yard the ponies were crowded and the luggage removed from their backs. +Ki Pak's servants proceeded to build a fire in the centre of the yard +and the cook made preparations for getting supper. Travellers had to +provide a large part of their own meals, for, as already stated, these +village inns were not hotels in the real sense of the word. They were +simply rude lodging-places where travellers might be protected from the +night air and have a chance to sleep while passing through the country. + +Into the main waiting-room of the inn Yung Pak, with his father and +tutor, entered. At the door they removed their shoes and left them +outside. In the room were several other travellers seated upon the +floor, which was covered with oiled paper and grass mats. There was +absolutely no furniture. The walls were covered with clean white paper. +Each man in the room was smoking a pipe, which consisted of a brass bowl +and a reed stem over three feet long. All wore long white robes, though +one of the occupants had hung his hat upon the wall. + +Into this room after a time the cook brought supper for his masters. +Other servants brought in boxes which were used as tables, and though +the style was not just what Yung Pak was used to, he managed to eat a +hearty meal. The day in the open air had given him a hunger and a zest +he rarely knew. + +After supper, for a short time Yung Pak and Wang Ken talked over with Ki +Pak the events of the day. A servant soon announced that their +sleeping-rooms were ready, and they gladly at once sought their beds. To +get to their rooms they again stepped out into the courtyard. They found +that each bedroom was one of the little buildings facing the yard. Yung +Pak and Wang Ken occupied one room, while Ki Pak had a room by himself. +Through a narrow door about three feet high the lad and his tutor +entered their room. The door was simply a lattice shutter covered with +paper. The room was very small,--barely space for the two mattresses +which had been put there by the servants, and the ceiling was so low +that even the short Koreans could hardly stand upright. Yet here our two +friends managed to make themselves very comfortable for the night. + +Outside in the courtyard the fire was kept burning, beside which two +watchmen sat all night smoking and telling stories. It was necessary to +maintain a watch till morning because the country districts of Korea are +infested with wild animals, particularly tigers, and the bright blaze of +the fire served to keep them at a distance. Otherwise the thin-walled +houses would have been slight protection for the sleeping travellers. + +As it was, Yung Pak slept soundly the whole night, and did not awake +until after daylight, when servants brought to his door a wooden bowl +and a brass vessel full of water for his morning bath. Quickly he sprang +up, and with his companions made ready for the day's journey, for they +were all anxious to be on their way. + +[Illustration: "THE DAY WAS PASSED IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS THE +PRECEDING ONE"] + +Breakfast was served in much the same manner as the supper of the +previous evening had been. Of this meal all heartily partook, for a +Korean is never guilty of having a poor appetite. + +As usual, it took a long time to get the ponies properly loaded and +ready to start, and the forenoon was about half-gone when the procession +finally left the courtyard of the inn. + +A twenty-mile march would bring the party to Rang-chyön, where it was +proposed to spend the second night of the journey. + +The day was passed in much the same manner as the preceding one, though +of course new scenes proved ever interesting to Yung Pak. During this +day the party had to cross a river which was too deep to ford, and over +which there was no sort of bridge. For the assistance of travellers a +ferry-boat had been provided. This boat was a broad, flat-bottomed, +clumsy affair. It could carry but three ponies at a time, with several +men. The men in charge of the boat were slow and obstinate, and +consequently it took a long time for all to get across the river. + +It was right here that an unfortunate, yet laughable, accident occurred. + +As on the preceding day, the cook rode perched upon his pony's load of +kettles, pans, and pots. When riding along a good road his position was +precarious enough, requiring all his best efforts to maintain his +balance. + +When his turn came to go upon the ferry-boat, Ki Pak advised him to +dismount and lead his pony across the plank which covered the watery +space between the bank of the river and the boat. But the cook was an +obstinate Korean, as well as a trifle lazy, and refused to get down, +thinking he could safely drive his beast across the gang-plank. +Ordinarily this would have been possible, but on this particular +occasion, just as the pony stepped upon the plank, the boat gave a +lurch, the plank slipped, and overboard went pony, cook, and all. For a +few moments there was enough bustle and excitement to suit any one. +Fortunately, the water was not deep, and quickly the drenched animal and +man were pulled from the water. The only permanent harm was to some of +the provisions that were a part of the pony's load. The cook was a wiser +as well as a wet man, and made up his mind that the next time he would +heed the advice to dismount when boarding a ferry-boat. + +The day's journey was completed without further special incident, and at +night they rested in the inn at Rang-chyön under conditions much the +same as at Yong-pyöng. + +The third day's journey brought the company to Kewen-syong. On the way +thither Yung Pak was much interested in the sights of the country, which +grew wilder and more strange the farther they got from Seoul. On this +day numerous highwaymen were met, but they dared not molest the +travellers on account of the large number in the party. + +The cabins along the country roads were a continual source of curiosity +to Yung Pak. They were built of mud, without windows, and no door except +a screen of cords. In nearly every doorway would be sitting a man, +smoking a long-stemmed pipe, who looked with wide-open eyes at the +unusual procession passing his house. + +Of course all the men who lived in these country cabins were farmers, +and Yung Pak liked to watch them as they worked in their fields, for to +the city-bred boy this is always an entrancing sight. What seemed most +curious to him was the fact that women were also at work in the fields. +At his home the women of the family nearly always stayed in their own +apartments, and when they did go out always went heavily veiled. These +country women not only assisted in the farm work, but they had to do all +the spinning and weaving for the family, in addition to usual household +cares. + +Wang Ken was able to tell Yung Pak much about country life, for, like +most of the school-masters of Korea, he was himself a farmer's son. He +told how the Korean farmer lived a simple, patient life, while at the +same time he was ignorant and superstitious. He believed in demons, +spirits, and dragons, and in nearly every house were idols in honour of +the imaginary deities. + +Pigs and bulls are the chief animals on Korean farms. The latter are +used as beasts of burden, though occasionally a more prosperous man may +own a pony or a donkey. The farming tools are extremely rude and simple, +thus necessitating the labour of several men or women where one man +could do the work with good tools. + +While travelling along Yung Pak met several hunters. They were not an +uncommon sight on the streets of Seoul. When in the city they wore a +rough felt conical hat and dark blue cotton robe. The garments were ugly +in appearance and inconvenient. When the hunters were after game the +robe was discarded, and its place taken by a short wadded jacket, its +sleeves bound around the arms over wadded cuffs which reached from wrist +to elbow. In a similar way the trousers were bound to the calf of the +hunter's leg, and light straw sandals over a long piece of cotton cloth +were strapped to the feet and ankles. A huge string game-bag was slung +over his back, and in an antelope's horn or a crane's bill bullets were +carried. Powder was kept dry in a tortoise-shaped case of leather or +oiled paper. + +Yung Pak's father would have been glad to have taken time for seeking +game with some of these hunters, but the business of his trip prevented +any unnecessary delay on the journey. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +THE MONASTERY AT CHANG-AN-SA + +In the latter part of the afternoon of the fourth day, our travellers, +weary and worn with the long journey, came in sight of Chang-an-sa, the +Temple of Eternal Rest, one of the oldest monasteries of Korea, where +hundreds of monks devoted their lives to the service of Buddha. + +The temple buildings, with deep curved roofs, are in a glorious +situation on a small level lot of grassy land crowded between the high +walls of a rocky ravine. + +Yung Pak was delighted at his first sight of the great temple and the +surrounding buildings. Through the swaying branches of the forest-trees +he caught brief glimpses of the granite walls and turrets reddening in +the sunset glow. The deepening gloom of the gorge was lighted by the +slant beams of the setting sun, and on the water in the stream below +flecks of foam sparkled and danced in the light of the dying day. + +At first conversation was out of the question in the presence of such a +majestic display of nature's wonders combined with the handiwork of man. + +Coming to a gate of red stone, Yung Pak asked the meaning of the carved +arrow in the arch overhead. + +"That arrow," replied his father, "signifies that the temples to which +this gate is the outer entrance are under the patronage of the king. +Wherever you see that sign, you may know that the king has a special +interest, and his messengers will be treated with respect and +hospitality. Consequently we may expect to be well cared for during our +visit to this place." + +Passing through the gate, our friends found themselves at once in the +midst of the Chang-an-sa monastery buildings. In addition to the great +chief temple, there were many smaller places of worship, with bell and +tablet houses. There were also cells and sleeping-rooms for the monks, +servants' quarters, stables, a huge kitchen, and an immense dining-room, +together with a large guest-hall and a nunnery. In addition there were +several buildings devoted to the care of the aged, the infirm, and the +sick. All these places, during his stay, Yung Pak visited in company +with Wang Ken and guided by one of the monks. + +Besides the buildings already mentioned there were several houses that +had been erected by the king on purpose for the use of his officials, +and it was to one of these that Ki Pak and his son and Wang Ken were led +by several of the priests of the monastery. In the meantime, the +servants and the ponies were cared for in other places assigned for the +purpose. + +Yung Pak was not sorry to arrive at his journey's end, even though he +had enjoyed himself every moment of the time since he left Seoul. A four +days' ride on the back of a pony will make the most enthusiastic +traveller tired, and Yung Pak was glad to get to bed in the comfortable +room provided just as soon as he had eaten his supper. His night's sleep +was a sound one, though at midnight, and again at four o'clock in the +morning, he was awakened by the ringing of bells and gongs that called +the monks to the worship of Buddha. + +In the morning Yung Pak awoke greatly refreshed, and, after a bountiful +breakfast, he started out with Wang Ken, guided by a monk, to see the +wonders of Chang-an-sa monastery. + +One of the first things he noticed was the large number of boys about +the place. He learned from the guide that these lads were all orphans +who were being cared for by the priests, and who, later in life, would +themselves become priests of Buddha. They were all bright and active, +and were kept busily employed as waiters and errand-runners when they +were not at work on their studies. Like most boys, however, they managed +to get a generous share of time for play. + +It would be impossible to tell in detail about all the strange things +Yung Pak saw at this monastery. The chief temple was an enormous +structure of stone and tile and carved wood, all decorated in gorgeous +combinations of red, green, gold, and white. + +Within this temple was one room called the "chamber of imagery." Inside +its darkened walls a single monk chanted his monotonous prayer before +an altar. During the chant he also occupied himself by striking a small +bell with a deer-horn. Bells played a great part in the worship at +Chang-an-sa, and all the prayers were emphasized by the clanging of +bells great or small. + +Along the shadowy walls of this room could be seen the weapons, as well +as the eyes and teeth, the legs and arms, of gods and demons otherwise +invisible. These had a ghostly effect on Yung Pak, and made him cling +closely to the side of his tutor. + +Above the altar before which the priest knelt was an immense carving in +imitation of an uprooted tree. Among the roots thus exposed were placed +fifty-three idols in all kinds of positions. Beneath the carving were +represented three fierce-looking dragons, on whose faces were signs of +the most awful torment and suffering. + +"About this altar-piece," said Yung Pak's guide, "there is a legend you +might like to hear." + +"Oh, yes," was the reply, "tell us the story." + +"Many years ago," began the guide, "fifty-three Buddhist priests came +from India to Korea for the purpose of converting the people to their +belief. When they reached this place they were very tired, and sat down +by a spring beneath the wide-spreading branches of a tree. They had not +been there long when three dragons appeared and attacked the priests. +During the contest the dragons called up a great wind which uprooted the +tree. In return, each of the priests placed an image of Buddha on a +tree-root, turning it into an altar. Thus they were able to overcome the +dragons, who were forced into the spring. On top of them great stones +were piled, and afterward the monastery of Chang-an-sa was built upon +the site of the battle between the priests and the dragons." + +Afterward Yung Pak visited the great kitchens, the dining-rooms, the +stables, the private rooms of the monks, and every place which might be +of interest to an inquisitive boy of his age. + +During the time he remained at Chang-an-sa he made several excursions +into the surrounding country, but always returning to the monastery at +night. + +Meanwhile Ki Pak had transacted the business for which he came to this +region, and at the end of ten days was ready to return to Seoul. + +Of this journey it is not necessary to tell. No mishap marred the +pleasure of the trip, and all returned safe and sound to their home in +the capital city of Korea. Yung Pak had enjoyed the journey very, very +much, yet he was not sorry once more to be among the familiar scenes and +surroundings of home. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +A FULL-FLEDGED TOP-KNOT + +Like all Korean boys, Yung Pak wore his hair in two braids, and by the +time he was twelve years old these had become very long, and hung in +black and glossy plaits down his back. + +On the day that he was thirteen his father called him to his room and +told the lad that the time had come for him to assume the dignities of a +man. In accordance with that statement, he had decided that on the next +day his son should be formally "invested" with the top-knot. In other +words, the crown of his head was to be shaven, and his long hair tightly +coiled upon the bare place thus made. This is called the "Investiture +of the Top-knot," and is always attended by solemn ceremonies. + +In preparation for this event Ki Pak had made careful and elaborate +arrangements. He had provided for his son new clothes and a hat after +the style of his own. He had also consulted an eminent astrologer, who +had chosen the propitious day and hour for the ceremony after due +consultation of the calendar and the stars and planets in their courses. + +Generally, if the father is blessed with good fortune and a number of +sons, he acts as his own master of ceremonies on such an occasion, but +as Ki Pak had only this one son he decided to ask his brother, Wu-pom +Nai, who had several sons and was a prosperous merchant of Seoul, to +fill this important position. + +Yung Pak could hardly wait for the morrow to come. So excited was he at +the thought of the great honour that was to be his that he spent almost +a sleepless night. However, like all nights, long or short, this one +passed, and the wished-for hour at last arrived. + +All the male members of the family were present. Korean women are +reckoned of little importance and take no part in social and family +affairs. On this occasion no men except relatives were asked to attend. + +Yung Pak was directed to seat himself on the floor in the centre of the +room, facing the east. This was the point of compass revealed by the +astrologer as most favourable to the young candidate for manly honours. + +With great deliberation and much formality Wu-pom Nai proceeded to +loosen the boy's heavy plaits of hair. Then with great care, while the +onlookers watched with breathless interest, he shaved the crown of the +lad's head, making a bare circular spot about three inches in diameter. +Over this spot he twisted all the remaining hair into a coil about four +inches long, pointing slightly forward like a horn. + +Over the top-knot thus made the master of ceremonies placed the +_mang-kun,_ which was a crownless skull-cap made of a very delicate +stiff gauze. This was tied on very tightly,--so tightly that it made a +deep ridge in Yung Pak's forehead and gave him a severe headache; but he +bore the pain heroically and without flinching--for was he not now a +man? The regular Korean man's hat, with its flapping wings, was next put +on, and this part of the ceremony was complete. + +Yung Pak now rose from his position, and made a deep bow to each one in +the room, beginning with his father, and then in regular order according +to relationship. Afterward, accompanied by his relatives, he proceeded +to the room where were placed the tablets in memory of his ancestors. +There he offered sacrifice before each one in turn. Lighted candles in +brass candlesticks he placed in front of each tablet, and beside the +candles he put dishes of sacrificial food and fruit. Then, as before +his living relatives, he bowed profoundly to the tablets of the dead +ones, and formally and seriously let them know that he had been +regularly invested with the top-knot, and now had the right to be +regarded as a man. + +The sacrifices made, Yung Pak called at the homes of all the male +friends of the family, who now for the first time looked upon him as +their equal, and in the evening Ki Pak gave a great dinner in honour of +his son. Here there was much feasting and rejoicing, and all united in +wishing the greatest prosperity and lifelong happiness to the little +Korean boy now become a man. + +He is no longer our _little_ Korean cousin. Hence, we leave him at this +point, joining heartily in the best wishes and the compliments bestowed +upon him by his friends. + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Our Little Korean Cousin, by H. Lee M. Pike + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12048 *** |